Fireplace



Jn. w, 1923. 1,442,473

V. A. HOLBROOK. F REPLACE.

F|LED MAY 25, 1921, 2 SHEETS-SHEET l l Jan. 16, 1923.

1,442,473 v. A. HoLaRooKy FIREPLACE.

FILED MAY 25. 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented lli, i923.

VIRGIL A. HOLBROOK, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNA.

FIREPLACE.

Application filed May 25,

To all who/m, t may concern.

Be it known that l, Vrncrn A. Honnnooii, a citizen of the United States, and a resident or' Los Angeles, in the county ot Los Angeles and State of California, ia ve invented new and useful improvements in Fireplaces, of lwhich `the forllourino is a specilcation.

rlhis invention relates to i fireplace structure, and has lor its main obj ct to improve the heating eliciency thereof. lt will bev understood in the consideration oit the invention that fireplaces are usually constructed to embody a space surrounded and insulated by substantial we. ls oit tile7 brick or refractory material 1which are normally` ol? solid or illed in construction. rlhc baci; wall is continued upward and turns at an angle to provide the usual arch and to dellect heated air and products of combustion outwardly to induce radiation before this heated air and products ot combustion lind their 1vay to the tlue opening -which is positioned immediately forward and above the arch. Obviously the amount et heated air radiated to the room is of relatively smallY proportion to that generated in the tireplace, inasmuch as large quantities of air are heated adjacent the heating` element and are carried through the flue without radiating heat to the room. The usual tireplace structures, however7 are credited with the advantageous feature lot promoting' eiiicient ventilation of the room or building; in Which they are use l.

It is therefore an object ot my invention to provide means whereby some of the heat of the gases coming' in contact with the Walls and the arch oit the fireplace are caused to give up their heat and to conifey Same to the interior of the room or building' in which thereglace is located, so that the` lrases escaping; through the flue carry aivav less heat and the efficiency oli the fireplace is improved while retainingr its advantageous features.

lith these and other objects in View., which will appear hereinafter. l have illustra-ted and described a preferred embodiment of my invention in which l employ hollenv tile of Well-known type comprising a plurality of thin Walls surrounding a plurality of longitudinal passages or ducts. rThese tile are'disposed so as to form a portion oi the side Wall ot the fireplace, the entire back Wall thereof and also the arch, as Well as 1921. semi No. if/2,5%.

a portion ot the ivzlll surroundingA the liuc opening adjacent the arch. Other tiles are positioned adjacent the iloor, so that the passaees therein extend longitudinally from a point exterior to the fireplace and communicate with the passages in the tiles torming the above mentioned uf'alls. rl`he tile forming` the side Walls are arranged with their passages substantially horizontal and communicating with the pr rees in the tile forming' the back Wall, which passages are disposed vertically. rlhe tile forming' the arch have their passages arranged in alignment with the aforesaid passages and these in turn communicate with another series o l passages in other tiles partially surround ing the flue at the lower end thereot adjacent the arch. rThese latter tile communicate With tile imbedded inthe upper part ot the lireplace structure which tile are arranged with their passages extending' lon*- g'itudinally and terminatingl at the sides o lt the fireplace close to the adjacent Wall oli the room at a distance substantially above the floor and somewhat to the rear of the inlet opening. Thus, a large portion of the heat. generated radiates readily through the thin Walls ot the tile and as result a current of air is maintained through these passages coming' from points adjacent the flue and being discharged at a point above the door .in the openingprovided in the Wall over the fireplace structure. rlhis structure thus virtually surrounds the source ot heat with currents of moving' air which isolated from actual contact or admixtue Vith the products of combustion Within the Fireplace and after being); thoroughly heated are discharged to the room.

It is apparent that in this manner the temperature ot the products ot combustion and heated atmospheric air passim: to the tlue are considerably reduced in eniperature before escaping and the heat radiated through the thin Walls of the tile is couserved and will not be Wasted by escaping; to the flue as ordinarily occurs in iireolace structures. lncidentall`- this im ingr current of air aids in keepn Within the room in constant cireulatin.the advantages of which are veli lino-al. is found that by employii this structi in addition to the above mentioned bcnrfits accruing; therefrom. that the walls ot the tile, and therefore the side stalls and arch of the lireplace are cooled by these currents .by the walls Q8 and 29.

of air and the refractory material of which they are constructed will not deteriorate as rapidly as in present structures, and will be prevented from attaining a tempera-mire sufficient to sinter or fuse the refractory material of which they are made.

I have illustrated the two embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, Vin which:

Fig. 1 is a View in plan section of a fue place constructed in accordance with' the invention, the air passages being provided by hollow tile use-d in the construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of the fireplace. I

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation thereof, showing the relative positionsI of an air inlet and an air outlet opening.

Reference being had particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, l employ a pliu'ality ot' hollow tile 6, G, 8-E5, 9 9, 101010, and 11, 11, of refractory materia-l such as `fire `clay. The tile are of the usual construction. and are here shown as each formed with a plurality ot' longitudinal passages 12, open at each end and separated from adjacent passages by means of thin walls 13, and the outer passagesare closed at their sides by walls 1st, 14.

rl`he tiles G, G are disposed adjacent the floor 15 lof the rooml in which the fireplace is installed and are each arranged with their passages extending` longitudinally. Une of the ends 16 of each of the tiles 6, 6 is disposed flush with the exterior side wall 18 of the structure within an opening 19 therein. The tile extends inwardly to terminate at the side wall 2O of the lire place which side wall :is formed by the tiles 7, 7, which are arranged with their passages eztending horizontally and rearwardly to the back wall 21. The tile 6, 6 are joined to the tile 7, 'T by a mitre joint as at 22 so that the pas sages of the one tile coninninirate with corresponding passages in the other tile. The back wall is formed by the tile 8, 8, and 9, 9 which are arranged with their passages disposed vertically and communicating,` with correspondin` passages in the tile forming the side walls they being joined as at 23 by a mitre joint. The arch wall 241.- ot' the fireplace is formed by the tile ll), 10 which have their passages ronnnunieatins; with those in the back wall 21.

Positioned above the spare 2F is the usual flue opening 2G, partially slnfrmin'f vd The `wall 9,9 formed by the tile 1l, l l arranged with their passages extending vertically and in coniinunication with corresponding` passages in the arch wall. lt is apparentnow that the side walls, back wall, and the arch, all oi which are subject to the greatest heat in a fireplace., are formed by the thin outer wall of the tile and therefore the air within the passages will be ra-j'iidly heated. The wall at the back of the flue opening will also be subject to that and the air .in passing through the tile in this wall will become further heated.

ln order to convey this heated air back to the room, there is provided at each side of the flue tile 12, 12 arranged with their passages extending horizontally from the tile 11, 11 to an opening' 30 provided in each exterior side wall of the fireplace structure at a point substantially above and somewhat to the rear of the lower openings.

lt will be observed that the arrangement ot' tile shown, which may be altered as occasion requires, permits of using standard sizes o'lf tile of the simplest construction and form, and these tile serve the purpose of' the refractory brick ordinarily used in such structures. The exterior o'l the structure which extends beyond a wall 31 of a room is :formed with ordinary building),` brick 32 for the purpose of providing a rigid structure and insulating the heat, but the brick ernployed need not be refractory. Also the rwall of the structure need not be as thick as required in present types, inasmuch as the moving currents of air within the tile tend to prevent radiation of heat to these outer brick. For ornamental purposes only the front wall 33 of the fireplace and the ei:- terior side walls are finished with glazed tile Srl. The inlet openings and the outlet openings are shownas provided With'ornamental grilles 35.

The operation is as follows: Upon heat being` generated within the fireplace by any of the usual means (not shown) heated air and products of combustion rise therefrom as indicated by the arrows and come in contact with all the.surrounding` walls. Upon the air and gases reaching` th arch wall, they are deflected outwardly b'utupon passing across the opening at the hase ol. the flue are induced therein by the natural dr ft. r)The path taken by these gases is similar t( that in present typ-es of fireplaces and it is obvious that vin such types of' fireplaces a large percentage oit' the heat genera-'ted mirriedaway. Particularly after the walls have attained a high ten'iperature and do .not absorb additional heat, it being nnderstood that the heat carried from fireplace to a room depends upon radiation and not upon currents. ln thev case oi theY corstruction shown however heat passes rapidly through lthe thin walls ot the tile snrrournliup' the one ol' lheat and the air therein is r The continuons passages pi-:lly h eateiil. freni the lower opening to the upper opening; en each side of the fireplace permits of a eontiinious flow of air therethrough and the heat taken up by the air causes it to be set in motion. Thus, while `heat is beingr ,generated air enters the lower openings and issues at greatly increased temperature from the upper openings. The temperature of the products of combustion and any air passing through the flow is greatly reduced and less heat is lost thereby.

Upon heat being generated in proximity to the walls of the unit the air currents set up on the passages follow the path indicated by the arrows. The air absorbs and conveys to the room a large percentage of the heat ordinarily lost to the fine. It will be observed that the air currents while absorbing all the heat passing through the wall of the unit preclude the possibility of the metal walls taking on a temperature sufiicient to injure the metal.

l/Vhile have shown and described specific embodiments of my invention and arrangements of the air passages, I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction shown or to the specific arrangements of air passages set forth, but may alter the construction and arrangement within the meaning of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claiml. A fireplace structure embodying a fireplace having the side and rear walls thereof formed of hollow tile, the side walls thereof having horizontal passages horizontal tile transversely extended from said side 'walls and having horizontal passages opening into a room and in communication with the passages in said side walls, the tile forming said rear walls having vertical passages in communication with the horizontal passages of said side walls, a tile arch over said fireplace having inclined passages communicating with the vertical passages in said rear wall, and other tile adjacent the fiue and having vertical passages therein communicating with said inclined passages and having openings into the room substantially above said other opening, whereby currents of air may be induced from points in the room near the floor through said horizontal, inclined and vertical passages for heating the air and discharging the same into the room.

2. A fireplace structure embodying a plurality of horizontally disposed tile arranged in vertical tiers and paralleling the front of the fireplace, with openings at the sides of the fireplace for receiving currents of air from points near the floor, side walls formed of horizontally laid tile having passages communicating with said inlet passages, a plurality of vertical tile forming the rear wall and having passages therein communicating with the passages in said side walls, an inclined arch formed of a plurality of tile having passages therein communicating with the passages in and extended substantially forward of said rear wall, a plurality of vertically disposed tile having passages therein communicating with the inclined passages in the top, and horizontally disposed tile having passages therein communicating with said last mentioned vertical passages and Yopen at the sides of the fireplace at points substantially above said air inlets.

3. A lireplace structure embodying a plurality of horizontally disposed tile arranged in vertical tiers and paralleling the front of the fireplace, with openings at the sides of the fireplace for receiving currents of air from points near the floor, side walls formed of horizontally laid tile having passages communicating with said inlet passages, a plurality of vertical tile forming the rear wall and having passages therein communicating with the passages in said side walls, an inclined arch formed of a plurality of tile having passages therein communicating with the passages in and extended substantially forward of said rear wall, a plurality of vertically disposed tile having passages therein communicating with the inclined passages in the top, horizontally disposed tile having passages therein communicating with said last mentioned vertical passages and open at the sides of the fireplace at points substantially above said air inlets, and a flue formed in front of said last mentioned vertical tile for directing the products of combustion outwardly from the fireplace.

4L. A fireplace structure having a fireplace and a flue at the top thereof for disposing of the products of combustion, a front wall above the fireplace, and side and rear walls extending therearound, a lining for the fireplace having side walls composed of a plurality of horizontally laid hollow tile, and a rear wall composed of vertically laid hollow tile, a plurality of horizontally laid hollow tile extending laterally from the front portions of said side walls and open at the outer ends thereof providing air inlets, the passages in said lateral tile being in communication with the passages in said side walls, and the vertical passages in said rear wall, an inclined arch formed of hollow tile and extending substantially forwardly from said rear wall and having passages therein communicating with the vertical passages in said rear wall, and a back for said flue formed of hollow tile with vertical passages therein communicating with said inclined passages and having outlets in the sides of said fireplace, all of said tile being matched and fitted so as to provide circulation of air through said inlets from points near the floor and from said outlets at points substantially above the floor of the room.

VIRGIL A. HOLBROOK.

Witnesses:

J. TN. SHEELEY, Roar. H. FoLsoM. 

